238 
DR. BENCE JONES ON THE VARIATIONS 
tions are seen in the accompanying Plate XVI. better than they can be set forth in 
words, and the influence of digestion on the acidity of the urine is made evident. 
There is a slight exception which requires notice. In the last day, before break- 
fast, at 6'‘ 45™ A. M., the specific gravity was 1024‘6, and every 1000 grains had an 
acidity marked by 16*59 measures. At 7^ 45™ p.m. the acidity had increased to 20*45, 
the specific gravity having hardly changed. At 8*^ 45™ a. m., just before breakfast, 
the acidity had decreased to 13*69, with a very slight diminution of the specific 
gravity. 
As a test of the truth of the conclusions drawn from the previous experiments, the 
variations of the acidity were noted when no food was taken in the morning, and the 
following results were obtained. 
(4.) No food was taken from dinner the previous day at 5^ 30™ p.m., to dinner this 
day at 5^ 10™ p.m. Both days the food was meat, soup, potatoes, bread and water. 
The urine was passed as frequently as possible. 
h 
m 
Spec. gr. 
Acidity per 1000 
grs. of urine. 
Water passed at 
6 
10 A. M, 
1025*7 
+ 15*59 measures. Clear. 
Water passed at 
7 
50 No breakfast. 1028*6 
+ 13*61 
Thick from urates. 
Water passed at 
9 
10 
1026*3 
+ 15*58 
Thick from urates. 
Water passed at 
11 
20 
1025*0 
+ 12*68 
Thick from urates. 
Water passed at 
12 
30 P.M. 
1025*7 
+ 13*64 
Thick from urates. 
Water passed at 
2 
45 
1028*0 
+ 15*56 
Thick from urates. 
Water passed at 
5 
10 Dinner. 
1031*3 
+ 15*51 
Thick from urates. 
Water passed at 
7 
10 
1034*6 
+ 13*53 
Thick from urates. 
Water passed at 
9 
5 
1029*4 
- 7-77 
Clear. 
Water passed at 
1 1 
1029*5 
- 291 
Clear, 
Water passed at 
5 
40 A.M. 
1026*9 
+ 10*71 
Clear. 
Water passed at 
8 
45 Breakfast. 
1028*0 
+ 17-51 
Thick from urates. 
Water passed at 
10 
15 
1026*3 
+ 9*74 
Thick from urates. 
Water passed at 
12 
30 P.M. 
1028*7 
- 14*57 
Thick from phosphates. 
Water passed at 
3 
10 
1028*8 
— 0*97 
Clear. 
Plate XVII. shows these variations, and contrasts the slight changes when break- 
fast was not taken, with the great changes after food. 
From six in the morning until dinner was taken, soon after five, the variations in 
the acidity of the urine were very small ; requiring rather more than one grain of 
carbonate of soda to neutralize 1000 grains of the urine. Four hours after dinner 
the urine was so diminished in acidity, that every 1000 grains of urine had an alka- 
line reaction equal to two-thirds of a grain of dry and pure carbonate of soda. Two 
hours after this the acidity was found to be increased, and by breakfast time, the 
following morning, 1000 grains of urine required a grain and a half of carbonate of 
soda to neutralize their acidity. Four hours after breakfast the acidity had decreased 
so much, that 1000 grains of urine were as alkaline as if they had contained nearly a 
grain and a quarter of carbonate of soda. 
